Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-02-25
Friday, February rs, 1887.
RESTRICTING IMMIGRATION.


Each age must have its isms, and if
we are to judge from present indica-
tions it would seem that during the
closing years of the present century,
we are to witness a revival of know
nothingism, which many have believed
long dead and buried beyond hope or
fear of resurrection. And it remains
for men of our own state of Wiscon-
sin to be foremost in a movement to
bring about such revival. Strange as
it may seem in a state which is largely
composed Of foreigners, a movement
Is on foot looking towards the reStric-
ton of immigration, by fixing period
of five years residence as necessary to
enttle foreigner to exercise the right
Of citizenship. And stranger still, it
is said that the movement is advoca-
ted and supported by many who are
foreigners themselves. 1t is stated that
time ago made inquiry as to the feel
ing of the people with regard to the re-
striction Of immigration, and received
i8i answers; sixty-three persons were
opposed to restriction; 351 favored a
modified form of it, and seventy were
in favor of prohibiting immigration.
We are apt to believe, however, that
the imputation that the idea is favored
by any considerable number of per
sons Of foreign birth is unjust and UNI
true. \ few senseless foreigners may
give expression to such undemocratic
sentiments, but we think that self
constituted oracles of public thought
are mainly responsible for such views
being set forth as representing the
wishes of the people in general. But
as these oracles are simply attempting
to carry out to its fullest extent the
American idea of protection by re-
striction, so far as they are concerned,
we have perhaps no right to complaint;
but in language which may be more
forcible than classic, we would say,
bad cess" to the breed of foreigners
awho would seek to deprive others
of the rich blessings which they them
selves have been permitted to enjoy.
If it were possible to send back whence
they came some citizens of foreign
birth who have failed to realize the in
tents and purposes of our free govern
ment it might rebound greatly to our
advantage 50 to do. We would be in
favor of making up the first ship load
from that class who express them
selves in favor of placing restrictions
upon their brethren coming from other
lands. In commenting upon the in
vestigation bearing upon the question
of restricting immigration, made by
our Labor Commissioner, the editor of
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
in a recent article truly says:
"If Wisconsin ooeys her oligarchy
of 42l, what excuse has she to offer?
None whatever. So far as these 42l
represent anything, they represent a
combination of native and foreign
seliShneSS and insolencc and narrow
mndedness. Whether born in New
England, or in Germany, or in Sean
dinayia, these men, having climbed to
a certain height of prosperity. propose
to kick down the ladder, that no one
else may use it, This is the plain
English of their talk. They try, cum
nmgly enough, to bewilder honest folk
BY charging our easy immigration laws
with the responsibility for the An
archiSt murders in Chicago, and the
half-silly, half -dev fish chatter of Most
The immigration laws have no more to
do with the matter than the tariff; per
haps not quite rs much. These lu-
natics and murderers come to Amer
lea, not because Wisconsin allows
them to vote in two years, and another
state in six months, but because they
are told that they can say and write
and print what they please. What
does the vote of Most or Spies signify?
It is the talk and the writing of these
men that miSlead and intlame the ig-
norant and the unhappy, as well rs the
vicious and the depraved; and if the
chosen few who are to save Wisconsin
and the rest of mankind, are equal to
the great argument of their high mis-
sion, they will turn aside from such
poor things rs votes, and call on the
American people, which lives only be-
cause it is free, TO suppress free speech
and the free press. Americans are in
vited by more than one influential
journal, to accept in Il matter of grave
public policy, the guidance of a few
foreign born and native citizens of one
state They are told by these foreign
erS that the foreign element is danger
Gus to the Union; and this is the very
moment to remember the foul bird
that detiles its own nest"
The foreign element is not near SO
dangerous to the Union as is the
teaching of the pernicious, know
nothing doctrine that America was
made for Americans and that for
eigners have no rights which native
born citizens are bound to respect. 1t
is to wise and broad craftsmanship
the carrying out of correct principles
of government not to the eXclu-
sion of this or that element that we
must look for the hope of our country.
Signs of Dawning Reason i'm the West
The La Crosse Chronicle.
Minnesota gave evidence of dawning